Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Any hidden family or sect, upon confirming this news was true, would be eager to draw a clear line between themselves and the Zhe Family. Annihilating an entire clan for profit was very different from doing so out of hatred.

Although strength reigned supreme in this world, as human beings, one still had to have a basic conscience and morality. To slaughter thousands of people from two families overnight for profit or personal greed... including countless defenseless women and children—such an act was utterly monstrous.

No family or sect would be willing to associate with a family like that!

Thus, although the Zhe Family was powerful, that one act of annihilation caused many of the families who were once close to them to gradually draw a line and distance themselves.

If the Zhe Family weren’t so overwhelmingly powerful, people would have likely cried out for justice for the Ye Family and the High Priest’s Su Family!

"Ling Xiao, what are you thinking about?" Ye Zi asked when she saw his pensive expression. Ye Zi had never met any of her relatives growing up, and she certainly didn’t know she carried the burden of a blood feud. For so many years, her only hope was to one day meet her parents. That wish had finally come true. She had met her mother, and it still felt like a dream to her!

At the same time, Ye Zi’s heart was filled with an intense hatred for the Zhe Family. Especially when she recalled what that Tier Four Sword Emperor from the Zhe Family had said about her father... Ye Zi didn’t even dare to think about it. The mere thought was terrifying, and it sent a tearing pain through her heart!

Even the High Priest didn’t know if what the Zhe Family’s Tier Four Sword Emperor said was true or false. Back then, after her Dantian was destroyed, she had fainted. A servant had risked their life to drag her into a corner... where there was an inconspicuous, shallow cellar for storing miscellaneous things.

The Zhe Family then set fire to the Ye Family estate, never imagining that someone could have survived under those circumstances! So, it wasn’t that the Zhe Family members had intentionally spared the High Priest’s life to make her suffer in agony for twenty years. The High Priest strongly suspected that the Zhe Family had obtained the Ancient Secret Manual for power enhancement from her family, which was why they had dared to go on such a lawless killing spree. And indeed, the Zhe Family’s strength had grown rapidly over the years!

Ling Xiao looked at the High Priest and asked softly, "Aunt, the Zhe Family... what is the extent of their current strength? And how much do you know about them?"

Upon hearing this, the High Priest said, "Over the years, I have never stopped monitoring the Zhe Family. Their family’s foundation is in a large mountain range in the western Zichuan Empire. I don’t know the exact location, but based on their strength back then, the Zhe Family had a Tier One Sword Venerable, a supreme existence who seemed to never make an appearance. As for experts in the Sword Emperor Realm, they had about five or six of them, and dozens of experts at the Sword Sect level! Back then, the ones who annihilated my family were mostly Sword Sect experts; only three Sword Emperors were dispatched! The others probably went to my mother’s family!"

Ling Xiao nodded lightly and said, "At the recent exchange conference on the Qin Family Island, the Zhe Family sent a total of twelve people. Nine of them were at the Sword Emperor level! The other three were Sword Sect experts. I heard that six of them died inside the Ancient Ruins discovered by the Qin Family! Three of the dead were Sword Emperor masters, so their losses were heavy. Of the remaining six Sword Emperors, two went to my Penzes City. Although they injured two of my people, they didn’t gain any advantage and retreated in defeat. As for the two who came here... heh, they’re both dead!"

Ye Zi added from the side, "That’s right! The two who went to Penzes City initially suppressed Thirteenth Master and Fourteenth Master, but their coordination was exquisite. Even though they were at a disadvantage and got injured, they held on. When Tiger rushed back, Thirteenth Master and Fourteenth Master launched an all-out attack, injuring one of them. Tiger also traded a blow with the enemy. He only suffered minor injuries, while the Zhe Family member seemed to be hurt as well! But it probably wasn’t serious. They saw that the tide would turn if the fight continued, so they both fled."

The High Priest glanced at Ling Xiao with some surprise and said, "Ling Xiao... besides Tiger, you have two more Sword Emperor Realm masters under you? Heavens... you, where did you find them? Also, I remember Tiger’s overall strength was only at the level of a Tier One Sword Emperor. Has he improved in the past year or so?"

Ye Zi glanced at Ling Xiao and said with a light laugh, "Mom, those two Sword Emperor Realm masters are experts from the family of another one of his female confidantes. They were specifically sent to help us! And that’s not all the Sword Emperors we have. There’s another one who has already reached the level of a Tier Two Sword Emperor! Oh, right, and Ling Xiao also has a servant who is a Tier Five Sword Emperor!"

When the High Priest first heard her daughter speak, she gave a wry smile internally. ’This silly girl,’ she thought. ’Your man has other women, yet you don’t show a hint of jealousy and even look happy about it.’ But Ye Zi’s next few sentences completely stunned her!

’There are two more Sword Emperor Realm masters? And one of them... is a Tier Five? As a servant?’ The High Priest felt like her brain couldn’t keep up. ’Has the outside world gone crazy? Are Sword Emperor Realm masters a dime a dozen now? If so, what’s the point of my revenge? I might as well forget about it!’

Ye Zi smiled and explained the story of Shangguan Yutong and Quefeng, the Clan Leader of the Ice Sea Secret Race. When the High Priest looked at Ling Xiao again, her gaze held not only the affection of a mother-in-law for her son-in-law, but also a great deal of admiration!

On the Canglan Continent, it was common for noblemen to have many wives and concubines, and this was even less strange among the hidden families and sects. Even Ye Zi’s father, who wasn’t even considered part of a hidden family but was a great noble of the Zichuan Empire, had a dozen beautiful wives. Of course, the High Priest, Su Xue, with her beautiful looks and unparalleled family background, was the undisputed principal wife.

Therefore, although the High Priest thought her daughter was a bit naive, she didn’t find it outrageous that Ling Xiao had many women by his side. It was the fact that he was surrounded by so many extraordinary people and strange events that forced her to re-evaluate this young man.

He was naturally handsome, but not in the pretty-boy way of most young nobles. Ling Xiao’s handsomeness was more of a natural charm that made people feel an instinctive sense of warmth and familiarity.

His demeanor was calm and steady. Despite his youth, there wasn’t a trace of frivolity about him. His aura was noble, yet he lacked the arrogance of a nobleman or the stately Emperor’s Aura of a Royal Family descendant. His disposition gave off an indescribable feeling... a sense of being high above, looking down on all living things! But upon closer inspection, his smile was just as warm and approachable.

That was why, when the High Priest first met Ling Xiao, even though she wanted to learn his secrets, she never had any intention of killing him.

"As for the Zhe Family," the High Priest mused, "I believe they would have many more experts in the Sword Emperor Realm after all these years. The Ancient Secret Manual my maternal family obtained can allow someone with exceptional talent to reach the Sword Emperor Realm within twenty years! If a traitor hadn’t leaked the news, my Su Family would probably be a super-family by now! However, after entering the Sword Emperor Realm, advancing further is extremely difficult. With each tier, one’s power increases several-fold, even tenfold, but so does the difficulty! So, I think they might have dozens of Sword Emperors by now, but not more than that, because that Secret Technique also requires people of exceptional talent to be effective! As for experts at the Sword Venerable level, I’m more inclined to believe... it’s still just that one old fossil!"

"Good!" Ling Xiao said directly. "In that case... we will declare war... on the Zhe Family!" (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)